BCPS superintendent, County Executive celebrate Earth Day by kicking off second annual “Clean Green 15” campaign to clean up county

April 22, 2015

Schools can benefit from anti-littering projects

What: BCPS Superintendent Dr. S. Dallas Dance and Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz will celebrate Earth Day 2015 by kicking off the second year of a joint effort to clean up Baltimore County communities with the “Clean Green 15” program. The anti-litter initiative is designed to encourage BCPS schools and community organizations to conduct litter clean-ups and beautification projects with environmental grants for schools as incentives. Through the program, BCPS schools and their community supporters will compete through the end of May to sponsor the most “Clean Green” litter clean-ups of 15 minutes or more. Community groups may include school-based groups, places of worship, youth groups, civic or community groups, scout troops, sport teams, or other organizations who wish to help clean up their school community. Last year’s first “Clean Green 15” project saw more than 3,200 volunteers participating in more than 300 clean-ups that resulted in the removal of tons of litter from school campuses and communities.

Background: Through the initiative, participating groups can register their “Clean Green 15” event by going to the BCPS website’s “What’s Happening” section and designating which BCPS school will be credited with their project. Environmental grants from the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools will be awarded to schools based on the clean-up activities credited to them as well as other anti-litter education and outreach efforts. Grants last year totaled $10,000 and prizes went to winners on the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Sponsors include Comcast, the Maryland Environmental Service, and the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability.